Departure Day!
Shalom, y’all. I’m writing you from the plane to Israel and have goosebumps. This time - almost 5 years ago to the date exactly - I was flying to Israel for the first time ever. Now I return… my inner world and the global world looking very different than it did then.
A moment of gratitude: I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that I fully would not be on this flight right now if it weren’t for all the love and support — in all its forms (emotional encouragement, financially, time spent) — that I’ve received from all of you, my dear מישףחה
תודה תודה תודה
My wonderful husband Yoni for giving me the best birthday present ever by supporting me on this endeavor every step of the way and for being my rock. I’ll be ringing in 29 on Friday, December 15, while observing Shabbat hopefully with the Habib cousins.
My in-laws, Marty & Andrea, who are literally my fairy god parents and have done too much to count. Critical was their willingness 5 years ago to take me with them on their trip to Israel.
My dad, bless him, who prints out, annotates, and snail mails to me on a weekly bases thought pieces supporting the Jewish people and the state of Israel. His solidarity has been unwavering since that horrific day.
My mom who is leading the charge at their church and quintessentially demonstrating what Christian allyship looks like. She leads a Bible study group with whom she has spearheaded dialogue, understanding, exposure, and education about the current conflict, the history of the region, and Jewish culture.
All of my siblings for their outpouring of love. In particular I want to shout out sister Andrea for being the first to text me and Yoni in the wee hours of October 7 to check in on us. Yoni and me hadn’t ourselves even yet heard the news.
To everyone who made a donation, thank you. With your help, I was able to book my round trip El Al flight from EWS to Ben Gurian. And to all of the Menashe family, I am so grateful for how you’ve accepted me with open and loving arms and have taught me so much about living a Jewish life.
The Next 2 Weeks: With a group of volunteers, as a member of a program organized by Onward Israel, I’ll be spending Sunday - Thursday for the next 2 weeks harvesting grapefruits and oranges on the Dayan Brother’s Farm on kibbutz Ein Hachurech in Emek Hefer.
The outbreak of the war has had a detrimental impact on farmers. The citrus season, which lasts for 5 months, is currently in full swing. There are bushels of fruit left to pick on the trees and a major shortage of workforce at the same time. Thai and Filipino workers comprise the majority of the farm hands in Israel, but due to the crisis most of them have returned home.
By volunteering to work on the farm, I’ll be helping to counter the impacts of this labor shortage and the severe damage it could cause and support farmers in their time of need.
The farm I’ll be working on, was founded by the Dayan brothers’ grandfather, Yaakov Dayan, and his younger brother Ezra. Yaakov and Ezra, embarked on a journey from Iran to Israel because of Zionist ideals during the state's establishment. They were pioneers and among the first farmers in the Land of Israel. Yasmin often linked the trees to his own children. Presently, with the invaluable assistance of dedicated volunteers and permanent workers, they strive to salvage the decades-long tradition and commitment to the Land of Israel that their grandfather built over 70 years ago.
I’m exited to be joining for this harvest season and learn more about the farm, the history, and the business and logistics that go into getting fruit from tree to table
Agricultural Connection: ”In Winter's chill or Summer's heat. Farmer's work so the world can eat.”
I come from a family of farmers. My dad grew up on Drake Farm in eastern NC located on the same land that his father and his father before him and his father before him sewed seeds on; creating an agricultural legacy of over two centuries. Volunteering to pick citrus fruits will honor the legacy of my family of origin and offer support to the Jewish family I have chosen.
My dad’s dad, AJ Drake, who I affectionally called Papa was the hardest working man I knew and my hero. When I was little, for years I would ask my mom to drop me off at my Papa’s for a sleepover. My grandmother, who we called Tutu, has since passed and though I missed her dearly, I loved my 1:1 time with papa. He would get up at the crack of dawn long before me and head out to the farm, but not with out always leaving me a cheese biscuit first. Now, I’ll be the one getting up at the crack of dawn. I’ll be bringing his memory with me each tree that I visit. Maybe I’ll even connect the Dayan brothers and the Drake brothers! Yalla!
A Short Story: I’ll leave you with this short story I wrote about the send off I received from Milton Kalin, Yoni’s paternal grandfather. Its working title is “Passing the Baton.”
As I turned to head out towards the street, Milton came in for a hug. After our embrace, instead of letting me pull away, he placed his hands on my shoulders, looked me squarely in the eyes, and said, “You’re a real hero to this family, now.” I saw his tears welling up. He was so proud of me. So in awe. I was almost taken aback. I’ve never had him look at me in that way. I have never locked gaze with him so intently.
For a protracted moment that was both fleeting and infinite, we just stared at one another.
I was awestruck by the color of his eyes. How had I not noticed their sea foam color before? I looked deeply into these two turquoise eyes staring back at me. It was then that I realized the full depth of my decision to go and volunteer.
You see, Milton is 98. He grew up in a world without an established and internationally recognized Jewish homeland. At 18, he served as a medic on the western front in WWII. He viscerally knows the vulnerabilities of the Jewish people. Never in a million years did Milton imagine that after witnessing the Holocaust, 80 years later on October 7, 2023, he‘d again bear witness to Jewish slaughter.
We told each other we loved each other and then it was time for me to go. I headed out onto the avenue and climbed into the car. When I gazed back, there Milton was, choking back tears as he waved me off.
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With that, I now turn to get a little shut eye before I land.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Am Israel Chai.
